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Top 3 Restaurants in Paramaribo

Let your taste buds take you on an exotic journey through this hidden pocket on South America's north coast as we share our top three restaurants.

3. Garden of Eden

Virolastraat, Paramaribo, Suriname +597 499448

Garden of Eden, Paramaribo

This romantic hidden treasure is just off the Kwattaweg, on the Virolastreet at Uitvlucht. This place, with seating in and outside, attracts Paramaribo's young and trendy crowd. The menu offersa lovely variety of Thai dishes and uses local ingredients making them even more striking. The prices are quite reasonable.

I started with an elegant cocktail followed by a Tom Ka Kai soup to cleanse the palate. This is a fabulous, flavour filled Thai chicken soup - lemongrassy, coconutty, not too spicy and with generous chunks of chicken. I continue with Marinated Beef in Tamarind sauce, which is striking and brings heavenly flavours together. The Bang-Bang, a local fish, steamed with ginger is delicious. The Green Chicken Curry is another favourite dish and proves they really understand Thai cuisine using a perfect amount of curry paste in the sauce, balancing the flavours beautifully. The most amazing dish though, is the Fried Squid Salad with Green Apple (normally with pear) and cashews. They marinate the salad with sweet and sour spices and it's simply amazing. For desert, the banana fritters have a lovely sesame and vanilla flavour.

2. Spice Quest

Dr. J.F Nassylaan, Paramaribo, Suriname +597 520 747

Spice Quest, Paramaribo

On the sandy part of Dr J.F Nassylaan, you will find a venue that will rock your world. Let no-one dare say Suriname does not know about culinary food because here you will meet the Surinamese master, Patrick Woei, the humble owner of Spice Quest who has put a lot of energy into sharing his knowledge with the youth of Suriname to continue the flow of culinary skill and beauty. The ambience brings up different emotions: outside you can enjoy a lovely romantic meal, inside, you have a more intimate setting and upstairs you can party while you eat. The menu includes a large variety of reasonably priced dishes, using local ingredients and a well-selected wine list.

I start with a creamy Tajerblad (local spinach) Soup with some Tempura Butterfish on the site which is an explosion of flavours. Although the beef carpaccio looks like nothing I have ever seen before, this sweet crispy garlic and teriyaki flavoured dish is to die for. The grilled Salmon teriyaki is served with local veggies, yams and okra - it is luscious and enjoyable an the cinnamon Parbo Beer stew with mashed potatoes and friend plantain lives up to my imagination of very balanced and delicious flavours. This is mt favourite dish of the evening. For desert, I taste the watermelon, orange meringue served with a pandang rice ice cream - the perfect end to this epic meal!

1. Flavours (in the Marriott)

Anton Drachtenweg, Paramaribo, Suriname +597 456 000

Flavours, Paramaribo

In the Courtyard by Marriott, you will find this awesome restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch and sometimes a killer buffet. The service and winelist are wonderful. The breakfast buffet offers a large variety of local dishes that change every day - sometimes they even serve 'pom'. Every buffet offers a wide variety of local and international fruits and desserts, including the mind blowing Bojo, made from coconut and yucca. The evening buffet offers all kinds of pasta, veggies, meat and fish. On Friday, the fish market day is a dream come true with beautiful white fish right from the ocean. The chef prepares it any style you wish and serves it with a variety of sauces. They also have a Chef's Table on request where the chef serves 9 dishes of extremely high quality - think NYC fine dining!

I decide to start dinner with a creme of taro (root), which is heavenly with beautifully earthy flavours. Continuing on with the Trio of Seafood, I never know that somed Bang Bang could be so flavourful! It is served with feta, watermelon, ginger, wasabi and caviar - all natural flavours and no salt. My main dish is a lovely piee of meat cooked to perfection. Their cheesecake cannot be missed for dessert!